Surgical electrodes



ly 1936- R. H. WAPPLER 2,041,535

SURGICAL ELECTRODE Filed Oct. 7, 19 32 INVENTOR BY 2 ATTORNZ PatentedJuly 14, 1936 U NIT E D S TATE S PATENT OFFICE SURGICAL ELECTRODESWappler, deceased Application October 7, 1932, Serial,No..636,'692

13 Claims.

My present invention relates generally tosurgical electrodes, and hasparticular reference to the type of electrodes which areadapted tofunction with electric current of high frequency.

It is a general object of my invention to provide an electrode ofimproved construction, whereby its employment in an endoscopic tube, inassociation with suitable illuminating means and a telescope, isfacilitated and simplified.

A more particularobiect is to provide an electrode whose visibility isenhanced, especially from the rear thereof, and more particularly Irom apoint of view obliquely rearward from the operative electrode head, suchas that which .is afiorded by .a surgical telescope arranged alongsideof the electrode.

While I have herein illustrated and shallhereinafter describe anelectrode having anoperative head designed primarily for coagulatingpurposes, and while my invention is primarily directed toward theimprovement of the .con struction of electrodes of this character, itwill be understood that certain phases ,of my invention are notnecessarily restricted to coagulating electrodes.

An electrode of the general character to which my invention relates,especially where. the same is to be used for coagulating purposes,usually consists of an elongated body from the forward end of which aconductive element projects, terminating in a bulbous or enlarged head.This head is designed to be touched or contacted with those tissueportions which are to be coagulated, as, for example, in effectinghemostasis. Since such an electrode is usually employed in interiorportions of the body, it is customary and desirable to associate it witha suitable illuminating means and with a telescope, preferably atelescopic instrumentof the character illustrated in Patent Number1,680,491 and commanding a substantially forward, though slightlyoblique, field of vision.

The ordinary constructions of electrodes preclude cleancut visibility ofthe operative head, or at least that portion or surface of it which isactually accomplishing the desired effect. My present invention providesa construction whereby the operative electrode head is rendered visibleto a greater extent, especially that face which is touched to thetissue.

The conventional electrode is also usually provided with a handle andwith an electric connector device at the rear end of the elongated body;and it is a further objectof my present invention to provide aconstruction in which the rear endof the body is .rigidified, especiallyadjacent to thehandle.

A particular feature of my invention lies in constructing the rear endof the elongated body in an improved manner whereby rigidity and 5staunchness are achieved Without complicating the construction, and, infact, by means of an arrangement of parts which simplifiesmanufacture-and assembly. The present construction is of a characterwhich may be used either with electrodes of the fixed type (in which theentire elongated body is manipulated), or of the movable type, i. e., inwhich the elongated body is maintained stationary while the electrode isaxially shifted by means of a hand-grip arranged at the rear end.

The improved visibility is achieved, briefly, by mounting the operativehead upon a conductive wire which projects from the forward end of theelongated body and which is bowed laterally out v of the line ofvisibility of the head. In a-preferred construction, two such bowedwires are used, whereby the operative head may be said to be supportedat the forward end of an O- shaped conductive element, permittingvisibility of the head through the O.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as mayhereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustrativelyexemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein-- Figure 1 a side viewof a typical assembly of telescope, lamp, and electrode, the electrodebeing of the present character;

Figure 2 is a view taken from the top of Figure,

1, with the telescope omitted, showing the elec- 5 trode device-byitself, with parts broken away for the sake of clearness;

Figure 3 is a view taken substantially in the direction of Figure 1,showing an enlarged crosssection of the rear end of the electrode body;0

Figure 4 illustrates approximately the view which is obtained by lookingthrough a telescope of the character shown in Figure 1;

Figure '5 is a top view, and 7 Figure 6 is a side view of the forwardend of an electrode of slightly modified construction;

Figure 7 is a view taken in the same direction as Figures 1 and 3,illustrating a further modification, with parts shown in section; and

Figure 8 is a View taken substantially in the direction 8--8 of Figure3, with the handle omitted.

.My present electrode consists of an elongated body I0, preferablycomposedof an outer tubular member of insulating material, and an innertu- 55 bular conductive member II. The body of the electrode isapproximately eight inches long, and the exterior diameter of the outerinsulating body element is of the order of one-sixteenth inch. Therelative fineness of the construction, and of the sizes of the otherassociated parts, will ,thus be readily appreciated.

At the rear end of the body, the electrode is ,provided with a handle,an electric connector device, and a, means for rigidifying theconstruction, all of which features will be described more fullyhereinafter.

Forwardly of the forward end of the body I0 ,is the operative head I2which I have illustratively shown in the form of a pear-shaped, bulbouselement of suitable conductive material. This head is mounted upon theforward end of a stem I3, which is in turn supported at the forward endof an O-shaped conductive element l4. This element is preferablycomposed of two conductive wires having their rear ends snuglypositioned within the forward end of the tubular conductive .member II,the wires diverging as they project from the body of the electrode, andhaving their forward ends converged in the manner shown to merge withthe rear end of the stem [3.

The entire conductive member I l is preferably set into a slightcurvature which is convex upwardly as viewed in Figure 1, the purpose ofwhich will be presently described. Furthermore, the stem I 3 and thehead [2 are preferably projected forwardly from the conductive element Mat a slightly oblique angle, as illustrated in Figure 1.

The electrode is designed to be used in conjunction with a telescopicdevice which may, for example, be of the character illustrated in PatentNumber 1,680,491. This telescope is provided at its forward end with theattenuated illuminating lamp l6; and slightly to the rear of the lamp isthe exposed face I! of the operative lens. A telescope of this charactercommands a forwardly oblique field of vision substantially of thecharacter illustrated by the limits l8.

Mounted alongside of the telescope l5, and either permanently orremovably attached thereto, is the guide tube or channel I9 throughwhich the electrode body is adapted to extend in substantially snug yetslidable relationship. The forward end of the guide tube I9 terminatesslightly to the rear of the lens l1, and the general curvature of theelectrode body causes the forward end of the latter to project out ofthe forward end of the tube IS in substantially the direction shown inFigure 1. When the body I0 is advanced, it tends to travel along agentle curvature, projecting the head l2 well into the field of vision.

By virtue of my present arrangement and construction of parts,especially with respect to the support of the operative head [2, theview obtained through the telescope I5 is substantially of the characterillustrated in Figure 4. It is to be noted that the forward end of theO-shaped element I4 is shown at the bottom of Figure 4, and it will beunderstood that advancement of the electrode further into the field ofvision will cause the element I4 to travel upwardly, as viewed in Figure4, thereby advancing the head I2 further and further toward the centerof the field ,of vision. It is further to be noted that my presentconstruction permits the surface 2| of the head l2 to be clearly visiblethrough the telescope throughout all manipulations of the electrode, andthis is of extreme importance since it is this region of the surface ofthe head 12 which actually contacts with the tissue to be treated. Inthe ordinary construction, this portion of the electrode head 12 isinvisible, and the actual point of contact can be only approximatelydetermined and controlled by viewing the upper or opposite surface ofthe head [2.

The improved visibility mentioned in the preceding paragraph is thedirect result of the present construction whereby the head is mountedupon a stem which projects forwardly, and pref erably at a slightobliquity, from the forward end of an O-shaped conductive element of thecharacter illustrated, since this element permits visibility of the headfrom an axially disposed, rearward point of vision, and along a line ofvisibility extending through the element [4.

In Figures 5 and 6, I have illustrated a slight- 1y modifiedconstruction showing the manner in which the same general objectivemight be obtained by the use of only a single wire 22, at the forwardend of which an operative head 23 is mounted. This wire projects fromthe forward end of an elongated electrode body 24, communicating at itsrear end with a conductive member mounted in the body 24, and the wireis caused to be bowed laterally out of the line of visibility of thehead 23. This lateral convexity of the wire 22 is illustrated mostclearly in Figure 5, which is a view taken from the top, i. e., from theside of the body 24 along which the telescope is to be arranged. Thevisibility of the head 23 is of improved character, and the visionthrough the telescope would appear substantially like that shown inFigure 4, except that the left-hand branch of the O-shaped element l4would be absent.

The body 24 preferably embodies a gentle curvature of the characterhereinbefore mentioned, and the general nature of this curvature isillustrated in Figure 6. It is also to be noted that the wire 22 iscaused to curve along a direction forming a substantial continuation ofthis set curvature of the body 24, thereby positioning the head 23 insubstantially the same relationship as the head l2 of Figure 1.

In accordance with my present invention, the rear end of the conductivemember H is caused to project slightly beyond the rear end of theinsulating tube In, as illustrated most clearly in Figure 3, and it ispermanently connected to a laterally extending terminal member 25. Thismember is exteriorly threaded and is inclined slightly toward the rear,being at approximately 105 to the axis of the body H].

A handle 26 is adapted to be removably associated with the terminalmember 25, and with this object in view, the handle 26 is composed of anouter sleeve or tube of insulating material and an inner conductivebushing 2'! which is threaded to engage over the member 25, asillustrated in Figure 3. Within the rear portion of the handle is anelectric connector device 28 which may be of any suitable construction,preferably being of the longitudinally split type which permits aconnection plug to make electrical connection therewith by merelyinserting the plug into the rear end of the device 28. This connectordevice is obviously electrically connected with the bushing 21 so thatan electrical connection may be readily established for conductingelectric current to the operative head at the forward end of theelectrode.

Inasmuch as the handle 26 is the portion which the operator grasps andwields in manipulating the electrode, it is of importance to rigidifythe connection between the handle and the electrode. To accomplish thispurpose my present invention provides a sleeve 29, prefererably ofinsulating material, which engages simultaneously around the rear end ofthe body l0 and around the forward end of the handle 26, therebyvirtually interlocking these elements. The sleeve 29 is provided with anaxial bore through its forward portion, adapted to engage around therear end of the body I0, and this bore merges at its rear end with aradial slot 30 of at least the width of the bore. At its forward end theslot 30 is enlarged to form a recess 3| shaped and configured to snuglyaccommodate the forward end of the handle 26 when the latter is screwedinto position.

In assembling the parts, the sleeve 29 is first applied over the rearend of the body I0. It is shifted forwardly to a sufficient extent topermit the terminal member 25 then to be secured to the rear end of themember ll. The-sleeve 29 is then slid rearwardly into substantially theposition of Figure 3; and finally the handle 26 is screwed onto theterminal member 25, the forward end of the handle accommodating itselfsnugly and rigidly in the recess 3|.

The advantageous features of the rigidifying construction are furtherillustrated in Figure '1, showing the manner in which this mode ofassembly and construction may be used in connection with a slidable ormovable electrode. In this figure, I have illustrated an electrode body32 which consists, as before, of the elongated tubular element ofinsulating material. The inner tubular conductive member 33,corresponding to the member I I, does not extend in this constructionfor the full length of the body 32 but terminates a few inches forwardlyof the rear end. As before, a laterally extending terminal member 34 isconnected to the rear end of the member 33, and it is to be noted thatthe connection is such as to leave the rear end of the member 33 open. Ahandle 35 is adapted to be screwed onto the member 34, and its forwardend is adapted to seat itself snugly and rigidly within a suitablerecess provided in the sleeve 36. This sleeve is substantially of thesame construction as that illustrated in Figure 3.

The device of Figure '7 includes an electrode element 31 which is anelongated wire or rod and which extends slidably through the member 33and all the way through the body 32, projecting at the forward end andterminating in the electrode head 38. At the rear end, the electrodeelement 31 is connected to a handgrip 39.

The element 31 is caused to embody a preliminary permanent set slightlycurved in the direction indicated, so that when the body 32 is insertedinto a guide tube of the character shown at I9 in Figure 1, theback-and-forth shifting of the element 31, by means of the hand-grip 39,will cause the electrode head 38 to travel forwardly into the field ofvision along substantially the same direction as the electrode headspreviously described. The electrical connection is obviously establishedby virtue of the slidable relationship of the element 31 and the member33.

In using the device of Figure '1, the operator grasps the handle 35 withone hand, and manipulates the hand-grip 39 with the other, and therigidity with which the handle 35 is associated with the rear end of theelectrode body is an important factor in permitting accurate andcontrollable manipulaton of the head 38.

Wherever the term operative head is used herein and in the appendedclaims, it is intended to refer to an element of the character typi- 5fiedby the bulbous heads l2 and 23, this element being in each caseonewhich is adapted to be applied to tissue for the purpose ofconductinghigh-frequency current to and. through the tissue which iscontacted. In the illustrated embodi- 10 ments, each of the heads I2 and23 is intended to be contacted with portions of tissue which are to becoagulated by high-frequency current, but it will be understood thatthis particular effect upon the tissue is not necessarily the only one15 which an operative head may be caused to produce. It may be furtherpointed out that the term operative head is intended to distinguish thebulbous portion l2 or its equivalent from the conductive wire or wireswhich sup- 20 port this head, the supporting wires not being intended tocontact with the tissue that is to be treated.

It will be obvious that changes in the details herein described andillustrated for the purpose 25 of explaining the nature of my inventionmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illus- 30trative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, and illustrated its use, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Thecombination with a telescope com- 35 manding a substantially forwardfield of vision, of an electrode comprising an elongated body arrangedalongside of the telescope, an O-shaped conductive element projectingfrom the forward end of said body and into the field of vision, a 4'0through. 425:-

2. The combination with a telescope commanding a substantially forwardfield of vision,

of an electrode comprising an elongated tub-ular body arranged alongsideof the telescope, a

conductive member extending through said body from an electric terminalat the rear end, a conductive wire projecting from the forward end ofsaid body and into the field of vision, and an operative head at the tipof said wire, said wire being electrically connected at its rear end to55 said conductive member and being bowed laterally out of the line ofvisibility of said head.

3. The combination with a telescope commanding a substantially forwardfield of vision, of an electrode comprising an elongated tubular bodyarranged alongside of the telescope, a conductive member extendingthrough said body from an electric terminal at the rear end, an O-shapedconductive element projecting from the forward end of said body and intothe field of vision, and an operative head supported at the forward endof said element, said element having its rear end electrically connectedto said conductive member and being arranged to permit 70 visibility ofthe head therethrough.

4. An electrode of the character described, comprising an elongatedbody, an O-shaped conductive element projecting from the forward end ofsaid body, and an operative, relatively en- 75 larged head supported atthe forward end of said element, whereby said head may be viewed fromthe rear along a line of visibility extending through said element.

5. An electrode of the character described, comprising an elongatedbody, an O-shaped conductive element projecting from the forward end ofsaid body, a stem projecting from the forward end of said element, andan operative head mounted on the tip of said stem, said head beingthereby arranged along a line of visibility extending forwardly throughsaid element.

6. An electrode of the character described, comprising an elongated bodyof insulating material, a conductive member in said body, a pair ofconductive wires diverging forwardly from the forward end of said bodyand electrically connected with said conductive member, said wiresconverging at their forward ends to form an O-shaped element, a stemprojecting forwardly from the converged ends of said wires, and anoperative head mounted on the tip of said stem.

'7. In an electrode of the character described, an elongated body, aconductive member in said body, a laterally extending terminal memberconnected to the rear end of said conductive member, a handle engagingaround said terminal member, and a sleeve engaging around the rear endof the electrode body and interlocking with the forward end of saidhandle.

8. In an electrode of the character described, an elongated body, aconductive member in said body, a. laterally extending terminal memberconnected to the rear end of said conductive member, a handle engagingaround said terminal member, and a sleeve engaging around the rear endof the electrode body and provided with a recess adapted to accommodatethe forward end of said handle.

9. In an electrode of the character described, an elongated body, aconductive member in said body, a laterally extending terminal memberconnected to the rear end of said conductive member and provided withscrew threads, a handle adapted to screw into engagement with saidterminal member and provided with an electric connector device, and asleeve engaging around the rear end of the electrode body and providedwith a recess into which the forward end of said handle is adapted toextend when the handle is screwed into position.

10. In an electrode of the character described, an elongated tubularbody, a tubular conductive member in said body, an electrode elementslidably accommodated in said tubular member and provided with anoperative head at its foward end and with a hand-grip at its rear end, alaterally extending terminal member connected to the rear end of saidconductive member, a handle engaging around the terminal member, andmeans for interlocking the rear end of the electrode body with theforward end of said handle.

11. In an electrode of the character described, an elongated tubularbody, a tubular conductive member in said body, an electrode elementslidably accommodated in said tubular member and provided with anoperative head at its forward end and with a hand-grip at its rear end,a laterally extending terminal member connected to the rear end of saidconductive member, and a sleeve engaging around the rear end of thetubular body and interlocking with the forward end of said handle.

12. In an electrode of the character described, an elongated tubularbody, a tubular conductive member in said body, an electrode elementslidably accommodated in said tubular member and provided with anoperative head at its forward end and with a hand-grip at its rear end,a laterally extending terminal member connected to the rear end of saidconductive member, and a sleeve engaging around the rear end of saidtubular body and provided with a recess adapted to accommodate theforward end of said handle.

13. In an electrode of the character described, an elongated tubularbody, a tubular conductive member in said body, an electrode elementslidably accommodated in said tubular member and provided with anoperative head at its forward end and with a hand-grip at its rear end,a Iaterally extending terminal member connected to the rear end of saidconductive member and pro vided with screw threads, a handle adapted toscrew into engagement with said terminal member and provided with anelectric connector device, and a sleeve engaging around the rear end ofsaid tubular body and provided with a recess into which the forward endof said handle is adapted to extend when the handle is screwed intoposition.

REINHOLD H. WAPPLER.

